gmerkt
New member
I made a quick stop in one of the large thrift stores today and found a Kirby G-4. I've got one already, but the mini-emptor in it was cracked. I repaired it with epoxy and it's serviceable, but I've been keeping my eye out for an intact replacement. The G-4 I bought today I didn't even bother plugging in; as a parts donor it really didn't matter. When I got it home, I decided to check into it some more as the machine didn't look all that bad and was complete, fairly clean, etc. I plugged it in and tapped the power switch and got a loud, UNNNNNNHH, the sound of trapped electrical power yearning for release. I knew right away that the motor was stuck, so took the nozzle off as a first step to inquiry. Right away, I could see blades missing from the fan. Next, I pulled off the fan cover and wow, what a scene of destruction. I'm used to the usual one fin missing scenario but this one was B-A-D.
In addition to pieces of fan, there were numerous objects that probably shouldn't have been run into the vacuum. Like machine screws, a ring, a small glass triangle, a slip-on pencil eraser, and various other metallic objects. And lots of plastic dust. At some point, an object had gotten behind the fan and been spun around. Fortunately, no damage to fan case or any other part.
As it happened, I had the partial remains of a G-6 (G-Six?) that I'd gotten in a trade for another Kirby part. The fan was intact in the parts G-6 so I just put that in the "new" G-4. Now all is fine with it and I have another G-4. I guess I'm still looking for that mini-emptor for G-4 #1.
This is a good example about the perils to direct induction system vacuum cleaners. This reminds me of an inadvertent version of the numbskull on YouTube who intentionally vacuums up rocks and screws to destroy vacs for kicks.
When a used Kirby comes my way, I always wonder about the machine. Because of how they are marketed, I think many a new Kirby being introduced into a household has caused a scene of family confrontation. "You bought what???!" and "You paid what???!" are phrases that come to mind. Every Kirby has caused another little domestic drama. Well, of course not all, but many. Another thing I wonder is, for a machine that originally costs, say, $1,200 +/-, how badly treated they can be. I guess it's the same thing with a new Cadillac. Someone pays $40, $50K for one and in ten or twelve years, it's gone to scrap.
In addition to pieces of fan, there were numerous objects that probably shouldn't have been run into the vacuum. Like machine screws, a ring, a small glass triangle, a slip-on pencil eraser, and various other metallic objects. And lots of plastic dust. At some point, an object had gotten behind the fan and been spun around. Fortunately, no damage to fan case or any other part.
As it happened, I had the partial remains of a G-6 (G-Six?) that I'd gotten in a trade for another Kirby part. The fan was intact in the parts G-6 so I just put that in the "new" G-4. Now all is fine with it and I have another G-4. I guess I'm still looking for that mini-emptor for G-4 #1.
This is a good example about the perils to direct induction system vacuum cleaners. This reminds me of an inadvertent version of the numbskull on YouTube who intentionally vacuums up rocks and screws to destroy vacs for kicks.
When a used Kirby comes my way, I always wonder about the machine. Because of how they are marketed, I think many a new Kirby being introduced into a household has caused a scene of family confrontation. "You bought what???!" and "You paid what???!" are phrases that come to mind. Every Kirby has caused another little domestic drama. Well, of course not all, but many. Another thing I wonder is, for a machine that originally costs, say, $1,200 +/-, how badly treated they can be. I guess it's the same thing with a new Cadillac. Someone pays $40, $50K for one and in ten or twelve years, it's gone to scrap.
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